When <b>Patrick Stewart</b> was cast as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in 1987, he was mostly unknown on TV, despite spending decades performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London.

When <b>Patrick Stewart</b> was cast as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard in 1987, he was mostly unknown on TV, despite spending decades performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London.

Photo: Getty Images

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Patrick Stewart in December of 2012. Pretty much looks the same, doesn't he?

Patrick Stewart in December of 2012. Pretty much looks the same, doesn't he?

Photo: WireImage

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<b>Jonathan Frakes</b> (left) as Commander William T. Riker and <b>LeVar Burton</b> as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge in a 1988 episode of TNG. Burton was one of the show's few actors already familiar to TV audiences. less

<b>Jonathan Frakes</b> (left) as Commander William T. Riker and <b>LeVar Burton</b> as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge in a 1988 episode of TNG. Burton was one of the show's few actors already familiar to TV ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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Jonathan Frakes at the Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con 2012.

Jonathan Frakes at the Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con 2012.

Photo: Getty Images

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<b>Brent Spiner</b> as Lt. Commander Data.

<b>Brent Spiner</b> as Lt. Commander Data.

Photo: Getty Images

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Brent Spiner at the Wizard World Austin Comic Con in 2012, speaking about the 25th anniversary of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation.''

Brent Spiner at the Wizard World Austin Comic Con in 2012, speaking about the 25th anniversary of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation.''

Photo: WireImage

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Do you know who this actress is? She played ''Hedril'' in a 1993 TNG episode.

Do you know who this actress is? She played ''Hedril'' in a 1993 TNG episode.

Photo: Getty Images

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It was <b>Kirsten Dunst</b>, pictured here in 2012.

It was <b>Kirsten Dunst</b>, pictured here in 2012.

Photo: FilmMagic

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The women of ''Next Generation'' were pretty tough. They were (from left) <b>Gates McFadden</b> as Dr. Beverly Crusher, <b>Whoopi Goldeberg</b> as Guinan and <b>Marina Sirtis</b> as counselor Deanna Troi. less

The women of ''Next Generation'' were pretty tough. They were (from left) <b>Gates McFadden</b> as Dr. Beverly Crusher, <b>Whoopi Goldeberg</b> as Guinan and <b>Marina Sirtis</b> as counselor Deanna ... more